Sam Winslow submitted this photo and note: “I took this photo in September 2026 after flying up to Santa Rosa-Sonoma County Airport (KSTS) in California for the day. There was a touch of haze in the air from nearby wildfires and perhaps some ice in the high clouds. I saw a halo from the sun framed behind the control tower. This photo is unedited — it really looked like that.”
A Veritable Roll Call of Aviation Rarity
Step back in time at the 2026 Grassroots Fly-In, where rare vintage aircraft take to the Wisconsin skies and pilots are enthusiastic to talk about the rare aircraft they own and fly.
It Is Better To Be On The Ground
It is better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than to be in the air wishing you were on the ground.
Yingling Aviation Named Epic Aircraft Authorized Service Center
Epic Aircraft has selected Wichita-based Yingling Aviation to join its network of Authorized Service Centers.
New Tanis Preheating System Approved For TBM Turboprops
Tanis Aircraft Products has secured an STC and PMA for its preheating system for Daher TBM 700-series turboprops, from the original TBM 700 through the recently certificated TBM 980.
Wiring Damage Leads to Beech 58 Landing Gear Collapse
Probable Cause: Damage to the landing gear selector switch wire bundle which resulted in an inadvertent retraction of the landing gear during the takeoff roll.
Picture of the Day: Wisconsin’s Largest Weathervane
Sparky Barnes submitted this photo and note: “Though its flying days have gone by, this Cessna 150 is still aloft by the shore of Cedar Lake in Wisconsin, at Meister’s Grill and Bar. There’s a seaplane base at Cedar Lake (WI35), so folks can arrive by plane, boat, or car to enjoy great food! (Note: The seaplane base is “Private use. Permission required prior to landing.”)
The Big Wrap Up
After 16 years and hundreds of weekly columns, Jamie Beckett is stepping back from his regular spot at General Aviation News. In this final wrap-up, he reflects on his incredible journey, the amazing aviators he’s met, and his exciting next chapters in aviation.
New Meadow View Peak Backcountry Airstrip Planned For 2027
The Jim Richmond Backcountry Aviation Foundation has purchased 136 acres near Meadow View Peak in California to develop a new public backcountry airstrip. A $200,000 Phase 1 capital campaign will fund site improvements at the airstrip, which the foundation hopes to open in the summer of 2027.